# **Measles Outbreak in Texas Results in First US Death Since 2015**
A measles outbreak in Texas has led to the first measles-related fatality in the United States since 2015. The outbreak, primarily impacting unvaccinated children, has extended across several counties in Texas and into nearby New Mexico. Health authorities are urging the public to keep their vaccinations current to avert further dissemination of this highly contagious illness.
## **First Measles Death in Nearly a Decade**
An unvaccinated child of school age in Texas has succumbed to measles, representing the first measles-related death in the US since 2015. The Texas outbreak has thus far affected at least 124 individuals, predominantly children, with 18 of them requiring hospitalization. Moreover, nine cases have been confirmed in New Mexico.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) along with health officials in Lubbock have confirmed the death, which occurred within the last 24 hours. This unfortunate incident highlights the critical need for maintaining high vaccination levels to shield vulnerable populations from preventable illnesses.
The last documented measles death in the US occurred in Washington state in 2015, when a woman with pre-existing health conditions succumbed to the disease. Prior to that, the US had not reported a measles-related death since 2003.
## **Measles Elimination in the US at Risk**
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, signifying that the disease no longer had sustained transmission within the country. However, outbreaks still arise, often linked to international travel.
Before the advent of the measles vaccine in 1963, the illness infected an estimated 3 to 4 million people each year in the US, resulting in 48,000 hospitalizations, 1,000 cases of encephalitis (brain swelling), and 400 to 500 deaths annually, as per the **Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)**.
Despite the achievements of vaccination initiatives, falling immunization rates have put the US at risk of forfeiting its measles elimination status. In 2019, the country narrowly escaped this situation when **1,274 cases** were documented, mainly in unvaccinated Orthodox Jewish communities in New York.
## **Current Texas Outbreak: A Rising Concern**
The current measles outbreak in Texas is linked to a close-knit Mennonite religious community that largely avoids vaccinations. The outbreak began in late January in **Gaines County**, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates within the state. During the last school year, just **82% of kindergartners** in the county were vaccinated—significantly below the **95% threshold** required to inhibit the transmission of vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Since its initial identification, the outbreak has broadened to include **nine Texas counties**, with additional cases emerging in **Lea County, New Mexico**. Health authorities are actively investigating how the virus has proliferated across state borders.
Of the **124 confirmed cases in Texas**, **101 are children**, including **39 younger than 5**, some of whom were ineligible for vaccination due to their age. Concerningly, **all but five of those infected were unvaccinated**.
## **The Necessity of Vaccination**
The **CDC advises** that all children receive **two doses** of the **Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine**:
– **First dose:** 12 to 15 months of age
– **Second dose:** 4 to 6 years of age
One dose of the MMR vaccine is **93% effective** at averting measles, while two doses confer **97% protection**.
Measles is considered one of the most contagious diseases known. The virus is airborne and can survive in a room for **up to two hours** after an infected person has departed. Among unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to the virus, **90% will contract the disease**.
### **Complications of Measles**
Measles can result in serious health complications, including:
– **Pneumonia** (5% of cases)
– **Encephalitis (brain swelling)** (0.1% of cases)
– **Death** (0.3% of cases)
– **Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)** – a terminal brain condition that may develop years after infection
– **Immune amnesia** – measles can impair the immune system, increasing susceptibility to other infections
## **Public Health Action and Guidelines**
Health officials are urging parents to **vaccinate their children** and for unvaccinated individuals to obtain the MMR vaccine as soon as possible. In light of the outbreak, Texas health authorities are implementing measures to manage the spread by:
– Conducting **contact tracing** to identify and oversee exposed individuals
– Promoting **vaccination clinics** in impacted regions
– Providing **public health**
